If you had a car accident recently, it is important to seek legal help. However, before you make an agreement with a certain car accident lawyer, ensure that you know if they are the right fit for your case. These are 7 questions to ask a lawyer after a car accident.
Questions to Ask Attorney About Settlement
Car accidents can be traumatic for those who don’t have experience using the law to secure compensation. It will leave you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about your next action step. Professional lawyers are experts and have good experience.
To help you make a wise decision, here are Questions to Ask an Attorney About Settlement.
1. What will be my estimated compensation outcome from my case?
The severity of your injuries and how your defendant aggressively fights for your case would determine the expected outcome. Receiving financial compensation isn’t easy for injuries sustained in a car accident. Of course, how the plaintiff interacts with their attorney helps to identify all the losses and calculate the damage.
2. How do you charge fees for legal representation?
The attorney’s fee is determined by the nature of the cases and the policy of law firms. You should be aware of the lawyer’s fees in advance. Most car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. They will only charge if they win your case. The fee is between 25%-40% of the total compensation amount received by you.
Read more in detail about how much do car accident lawyers charge?
3. What is the expected time to settle my case?
Most car accidents are resolved out-of-court settlements. However, if this doesn’t happen, your attorney will file a case in court. Looking toward evidence and claims, they might be more willing to finalize the case through a pre-trial settlement. As the case develops, your attorney will better understand how long the case takes to resolve.
4. What will be the strategies to win a case?
Every car accident lawyer has unique strategies that are required to win the case. Your lawyer will clarify how you pursue your claim. A good lawyer will provide a timeframe to resolve the case. Expected timeframe helps you manage expectations and plan accordingly.
5. Can you resolve my case out of court?
If the plaintiff and insurance companies agree to certain terms and conditions, you can resolve the case out-of-court. Structured processes like mediation, arbitration, internal appeals format, etc., are the conditions where both parties must agree.
6. How can I handle insurance companies or adjustor?
Your lawyer has direct access to handle all the questions and concerns related to your case. So, most lawyers tell you to refrain from communicating with insurance companies. It will avoid unnecessary disclosure or weaken your claims.
7. Can you provide case testimonials?
It is one of the most important questions when choosing a lawyer. Someone with good experience and knowledge of car accident law will navigate any potential legal hurdles. Past results do not guarantee future success but you need to have an experienced lawyer to understand the nuances of the case and the strategies.
General Questions Asked By Car Accident Lawyer
A car accident lawyer should have in-depth knowledge about the case, which increases the probability of winning the case. Here are general questions that car accident lawyers may ask:
1. Tell me briefly about your case.
Lawyer consultation should be honest and comprehensive. Although lawyers conduct independent investigations into the facts, providing a truthful narrative is important. Based on the details you provided, we will present your case in the best possible light. Your advocate is responsible for reorienting all the facts to make your claims look favorable to a court.
2. Do you have any medical documentation?
X-rays, MRI tests, other diagnostic tests, and all the medical bills heavily impact the case. These documents support your claims. They can define both liability and damages in your case. So, a lawyer will ask to submit medical documentation with a medical prescription.
3. Did you have permanent injuries?
Insurance companies mostly try to avoid or minimize the amount of compensation. So, a car accident lawyer asks about the permanent injury as this would determine the compensation amount. Usually, accident victims can’t appeal for their pre-existing injuries. However, if a car accident escalates the permanent injury or worsens your injury, then you might recover compensation with medical bills.
4. What is the limit of an at-fault driver’s insurance policy?
Generally, insurance companies won’t pay out more than the policy’s limits. These policy limits can be the highest possible amount you can obtain from an insurance claim against that driver. You can increase the compensation by several changes and recover beyond the policy’s limits.
Conclusion
The lawyer’s specialization lets you decide whether you win or lose your case. Most lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. They only take the fees if you win the case. The fee is 30-40% of the total received compensation amount.
A car accident lawyer helps determine your case’s strengths or weaknesses. Hiring the right car accident lawyer would be one of the crucial decisions. To identify the right lawyer for your case, you should ask about everything that comes to your mind related to an accident.
FAQs About Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
When is it too late to get a lawyer for a car accident?
There is no specific time limit for when you should get a car accident lawyer. Any time is right to get help from a lawyer if you have not accepted a settlement and signed a waiver of the other party.
Can I ask my lawyer how much my case is worth?
A personal injury lawyer doesn’t know about the specific amount. But they should be able to give a round-off figure.
Should I get a lawyer for a car accident that wasn’t my fault?
If you are not responsible for the accident; everything will work out in your favor, but you must prove that you did not commit any wrongdoing. You need a lawyer to defend you after filing the case in court.
